Most Powerful Massage Guns: When the Mighty Lock Horns

We know that whether you’re an athlete, bodybuilder, therapist, or simply someone committed to optimal muscle recovery, power is paramount when choosing a massage gun. And finding the right one is challenging in a market full of devices that don’t live up to their promises.

So today, we’ll take you through the most powerful massage gun picks that actually deliver.

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Our Criteria for Choosing The Most Powerful Massage Gun

We always have fun when picking and testing our recommendations. So much fun that we looked at 70 different massage guns unfazed.

That must be brutal, you say. Not as brutal as finding out that the massager you bought with a lot of money is a bust. We simply don’t take chances, so we personally test every device against a set of criteria.

What does the strongest massage gun need to have then?

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Great Stall Force

Stall force, sometimes also called as ‘no-stall force‘ is how much pressure it takes to stop the motor of a massage gun. You want something that will continue working even under a considerable amount of pressure.

Let’s put it straight: based on our experience, as the strongest massage guns are concerned, we don’t recommend anything less than 50lbs.

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High Amplitude / Stroke Length

How long the stroke length is determines how far the massage head travels back and forth and importantly how deep into the muscle it hits. The longer it is the more ‘punchy’ it feels.

Sometimes the manufacturer may sacrifice this for a better stall force. It doesn’t make the gun weaker, it just means a different proposition.

That said, the bare minimum for us is 12mm, anything below this is not good enough if you’re a demanding user. Ideally though, you should be getting a gun with 15-16mm. We have a separate post covering highest amplitude massage guns, you may want to check it as well.

Also, keep in mind that the stroke length also affects percussions per minute. More on that in a minute.

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Good Percussion Range

Percussion range is how many times the head hits in a minute. This is where things might be a bit fuddling in massage gun talk. As mentioned above, the stroke length has a role to play here. A longer stroke length may mean less percussions per minute and the other way around. 

However, there’s a third aspect to be considered here, and that’s the stall force. Sometimes a gun may have a higher stall force but a shorter amplitude and consequently a much higher percussion range.

That explains our inclusion of the Ekrin B37S which has a shorter amplitude but a greater stall force. Where it fails in amplitude, it delivers in stall force and hits per minute.

On the other hand, guns like the Theragun Pro or Bob and Brad D6 Pro have a great stall force, longer amplitude, but far less percussion range (about 2400-2500). 

But there are exceptions to this in some guns. The Achedaway Pro for example defies this by delivering high numbers in all these aspects. It has 80lbs. stall force and a 16mm amplitude but still amazingly delivers 2800 hits per minute – on a photo below, you can see that we measured the actual range.

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Other Important Parameters

There are other things worth looking at if you like every base covered. They include:

• Speed Settings / Levels: in our opinion, 4-6 is an optimal set to cycle through.
• Extra features: for example force meters and variable massage modes.
• Noise levels: We prefer a quiet gun, not power saws.
• Weight and ergonomics: Because these are powerful, they will definitely have a considerable weight. But don’t break your wrist trying to use one. Ergonomics are important if you hope to have a smooth experience.
• Brand trustworthiness: A brand that has a website, clear contact information, previous customer reviews and warranty information is a plus for us.
• Extra accessories included: We check for carrying cases or pouch.
• Battery capacity and quality: Generally, you should be able to use a massage gun for at least 2 hours on high intensity after a full charge. Branded batteries also give a hint on the quality of a massage gun. 
• Warranty: Lifetime warranties! Who wouldn’t want one? Some brands though will only offer a 1-year warranty.
• Customer care: Also important if a device doesn’t work as it should. Based on our experience, Ekrin offers the best customer care. Therabody, Achedaway, Bob and Brad also have a good support teams in place.
• Value for Money: Why buy an expensive one when you can get a cheaper but just as powerful if not more.

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Our Top 3 Picks for Most Powerful Massage Gun

What is the most powerful massage gun? These are our top three picks that cover all the bases.

The Achedaway Pro massage gun has to be the most powerful percussion massager we have seen and tested. Why?

Power

First, this monster device takes the number one position because even we couldn’t believe our experience with it. Because Theragun has got all the hype in this space, we thought it would be rare for anyone to rival it.

But with a stall force reaching well over 60lbs., there’s no stalling this thing once it starts revving away. We suspect the motor has something to do with this. Not many guns have a motor like this has. This is a monster gun, especially at high speeds.

Not only it has such a high stall force, the amplitude is impressive as well, punching up to 16mm deep – yes, exactly the same as the mighty Theragun Pro.

The percussion range is up to 2800rpm. This is even higher than the Theragun!

Now, couple that with the high stall force and the 16mm amplitude and we’re talking colossal performance here. You can see why it made our list. 

Other Features

This is a powerful well-built massage gun. It is very original with its design but with a bit of an Ekrin twist with its angled handle. It’s a sturdy, durable piece that we really enjoyed using, and we think that the photos we shoot demonstrate it well.

Another impressive feature with this gun is its battery. It’s absolutely juiced! 3200mAh is perhaps the best in the business. It’s a removable battery so you can get a spare one for convenience.

Lastly, another reason we picked up this one as our #1 choice is the noise, or the lack of it.

Achedaway Pro is one of the quietest massage guns we’ve ever tested, which is hard to believe considering how much power this baby has. For a high-amplitude device, it’s incredibly hushed.

It comes with 4 attachment heads, with 2 of them made from aluminum alloy (we loved them!). It also comes in a really nice carrying case and is backed by a two-year warranty.

Price

DEAL ALERT Achedaway Pro retails for $299 but if you use the MGA60 discount code, you will get $60 off the price, which makes it $239. Apply the coupon in the Achedaway official store here.

Read More Check out our full Achedaway Pro Review.

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After Ekrin gave us the B37 massage gun that packed a lot of great features (our review here), we were eager to find out if there was anything else in the works.

Luckily they were busy making its sequel. Finally we laid our hands on this brilliant and powerful massage gun. The Ekrin B37S ladies and gentlemen!

Power

Now, the B37 was already powerful enough with its 56lbs. of stall force and a more than enough amplitude of 12mm. But did Ekrin do anything different with the B37S?

Well, to be sure, Ekrin didn’t touch neither of the stall force or the amplitude. But they did touch something.

During our tests we found out that they increased the stall force on the lower speeds by a whopping 30%! This means that this new device will offer top performance even on the first gear.

To put it into perspective: the B37S feels about twice as powerful on the first speed comparing to our top pick Achedaway. Heck, at speed one, it feels even stronger than the mighty Theragun Pro!

Now, if that’s not a banger we don’t know what is. The medium amplitude is not really a big issue now with this great adjustment. The B37S will still give you a performance better than most guns out there.

Another adjustment that Ekrin made is they increased the percussion range to 2000-3200. The B37 now revs across 5 speed gears. The fifth gear is a special one that cycles through previous speeds in intervals of 30 seconds.

All of that means this: the B37’s ability to provide the deep tissue muscle penetration comes from the powerful motor and super-fast percussions, even under the pressure exerted.

It is a radically different approach than the one used in Achedaway, the M3 Pro below or even in Theragun Pro. In these, the intensity comes from the high-amplitude punches, at the cost of frequency (percussions per minute). In B37s, it comes from stall force and faster percussions.

When we tried out Ekrin’s unique solution, it worked like a charm, and we couldn’t be happier.

Other Features

They also added a built-in retroactive Force Meter. What this does is control the pressure applied by displaying the amount of pressure. It’s the blue light at the top of the handle.

While we don’t think the force meter is an absolute necessity, we have to admit it’s one of the best-executed pressure sensor designs we’ve seen in action.

And what else did we discover during our test? The excellent ergonomics! The angled handle was fantastic for those of us who appreciate a smooth massage. Plus, it weighed just 2.2lbs. and felt really well well-balanced.

The B37S comes with 6 attachments (2 more than the original B37) and a high-quality Samsung-branded battery. To top it all off, a lifetime warranty is included!

Price

The regular price of Ekrin B37S is $329, but if you use the MGA20 coupon, you can buy it at only $263.99, which is 20% off. Get it right here and save $65.

Read More Check out the full Ekrin B37s Review.

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We will pick Bob and Brad D6 Pro as our third most powerful massage gun because it’s got everything a demanding user needs.

For starters, this is a big gun. We found it bulky and heavy, heavier than any of our top two picks. It weighs 2.86 pounds. Achedaway Pro is a tad lighter. For us, this wasn’t a problem, but for small folks, it could potentially be. However, you can take advantage of the D-shaped handle to ease the pressure on your wrist.

Bob and Brad went after Theragun’s patented look. The device not just looks surprisingly similar to the mighty Pro, but it also performed pretty much the same when we tested it.

Power

So in terms of performance, the D6 Pro has a 16mm amplitude, which we verified with a caliper. Bob and Brad didn’t make devices with a long amplitude before, so this one seems like the exception. With 16mm expect thuds and deep muscle penetration when you need it.

It’s not just the amplitude that makes this thing a monster, the stall force is just enormous.

Bob and Brad advertise it as 80lbs. but we are not sure that is the true figure. We pitted it against Theragun Pro, and the resistance felt similar. We’d say it’s about 60lbs. 

With such a significant amplitude and powerful stall force, this is the gun you need when you are a big guy.

Then, there is also the matter of percussions per minute. Now, we often don’t expect big guns to rev fast. This one can rev up to 2500RPM. This is decent enough – Theraguns can do 2450RPM at best. 

Other Features

We love how equipped it is. Our unit came with a hard carrying case and a smaller pouch to carry the attachments.

Speaking of attachments, there are 7 in there and all scream Theragun-like quality.

The D6 Pro is relatively quiet for a high-amplitude massage gun, and it has a standard capacity battery – 2500mAh. This is less than our top option Achedaway Pro (3200mAh capacity), but still good enough to go for a week on a single charge.

It is reasonably priced. It normally costs about $250, but if you apply the Amazon coupon and the MGAD6PRO code at checkout, it’s cheaper than our top pick. Check it out here at Amazon.

Read More In our full Bob and Brad D6 Pro Review.

Two More Strong Massage Gun Options

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Opove has been doing well with their Hypervolt-inspired percussive devices.

We got wind about the latest M3 Pro massage gun, the company’s latest design, and decided to test it. Turns out, the buzz was well-deserved; this device packs a surprisingly powerful punch!

Power

Opove advertises a 70lbs. stall force, and when we tested it, it felt just slightly lower, somewhere between 45-50lbs. But, given its price point, this is still well above average.

The amplitude is also impressive at over 12mm (12.3 to be precise). When you combine that with the above-average stall force, you’re definitely getting an effective punch from this device..

The percussion range is a reasonable 1300-2600 rpm, which puts it on par with some of the best high amplitude massage guns out there, especially considering its stroke length.

Other Features

We were also pleased with how quiet this gun is (45-63dB). The smooth, non-disturbing sound it produces is a welcome feature.

Ergonomically, the M3 Pro is good, but not outstanding. While it doesn’t have an angled handle, the balance is good, and the rubberized handle allows for a firm and confident grip. The gun feels quite premium, and we didn’t spot any cheap hard plastic used in its construction..

However, it remains an excellent option for active individuals, amateur athletes, or bodybuilders who want a wallet-friendly choice.

Price

The price is normally $199 but right now you can get it only $119 at opove.com. We think it’s a very attractive price-point for all the specs this gun has to offer.

Read More Find out more in our hands-on Opove M3 Pro Review.

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Lifepro DynaFlex – Runner up #2

We recently tried out the Lifepro Dynaflex, which is a strong but more pocket-friendly option. If you want something just as powerful but you are unwilling to spend on a premium product, this could be a solid choice.

The Dynaflex isn’t low quality by any means; it just doesn’t have the premium feel of some of our top picks. However, it’s a well-built massage gun, feeling stable and looking quite heavy-duty.

Power

We were also impressed by its power; in our tests, it boasted a solid 45lbs. of stall force (which we found to be fairly accurate). It feels more or less similar to the Opove M3 Pro mentioned above, possibly even slightly more powerful.

To sweeten the deal even more, Lifepro gave this massage gun a 13mm stroke length – we were able to verify it using a digital caliper. This setup will work perfectly with this kind of stall force.

The percussion range of 1250-2850rpm is also good, allowing for a low-intensity start that you can gradually increase as needed.

Other Features

This device has 16 speed levels! That’s a lot. We don’t recommend anything that has higher than 6 speeds because it’s just too daunting trying to get to the right setting. However, we’ll turn a blind eye to it because the gun has a wide enough range to justify those additional gears.

Another advantage you may like is the 10 attachment heads that can be useful if you want to target different body parts.

On the plus side, the battery is great, and it is fully detachable. It also features an adjustable handle that can be locked in four different positions to improve the ergonomics a bit – a unique feature amongst our picks.

Lastly, like Ekrin, Lifepro too offers a lifetime warranty for their massage guns, so you don’t really risk anything. Any returns are hassle-free as well (we went through the process at one occasion).

Price

The price is only $179.99 if you use the coupon MGA10 that gives you 10% off the normal price ($199). Get it in Lifepro store right here.

Read More Check out the full Lifepro Dynaflex review.

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Honorable Mention: Theragun Pro

So why didn’t we include the Theragun Pro in our Top 3? To be honest, we had a debate on whether it should feature.

In our tests (full review here) it actually ticked all our boxes to be included, but the price gave it away. It’s 5 times the price of Opove M3 Pro and 2 times the price of our best pick, the Ekrin B37S.

Even so, the Theragun Pro still deserves an honorable mention. It remains one of the top strongest massage guns.

And even if some gun beats it in this, it’s likely the most innovative gun of them all.

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Hey, What About Hypervolt 2 Pro?

Well, we had a bit of a guilt trip for failing to include the Theragun Pro but we are not sorry for not including the latest Hypervolt 2 Pro. Let us explain.

In our Hypervolt 2 Pro review, we complained at the 2 Pro’s low stall force, which we estimated at only 30-35lbs in our test. This has been our own estimation, since Hyperice wouldn’t disclose the exact number.

But just for comparison, the predecessor model, the good old Hypervolt Plus, had a powerful stall force of about 50lbs, which was more or less the same as the Ekrin B37S. The difference is easily noticeable.

It has a high 14mm amplitude and goes for $329, which is expensive, yet arguably fair for a good massage gun brand like Hyperice.

But the thing is that apart from the high amplitude and slightly improved ergonomics (slimmer, oval handle) we feel it has nothing really unique to offer. Well, unless you have a thing for Bluetooth. Here are some notes to compare:

• The 2 Pro has the same T-shape design as hundreds of other guns out there. We are not fans of 90-degree handles, due to poor ergonomics and added wrist tensions.
• Hypervolt has a force meter, but the Ekrin B37S costs $264 with our coupon and has one too (and it’s a way better executed one).
• The batteries can be swapped, which is great but Achedaway has a similar feature and only costs $274 with our $25 off deal.
• It feels heavier than our top picks
• 5 attachments is welcome but there’s no carrying case. The small pouches for attachments don’t count in our opinion.

Our Thoughts

Hypervolt 2 Pro is a good massage gun and we will be recommending it somewhere else. But today we won’t. We feel the price is somewhat high and it doesn’t offer anything special over our other choices. The Theragun Pro can have a prayer with its rotating arm and triangular design and all, but the Hypervolt simply doesn’t cut it.

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And The Strongest Mini Massage Gun Is…

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What is the most powerful mini massage gun? Despite many mini percussion massagers available in the market, finding a truly powerful one can be a challenge (we know something about it, check this guide).

Therefore, these two are not the ones you should be looking at.

What you should consider instead is Ekrin Bantam. This little sucker is so impressive. Granted, the about 10mm amplitude is less than what you get with Theragun mini, but Theragun aside, there are no other mini guns which come with an amplitude of more than 10mm.

Power

Where Bantam shines, however, is the stall force.

With well over 30lbs. of pressure needed to stall the motor, the Bantam is harder to stall than many full-sized guns. To give you an example, the tiny Bantam rivals full-sized Theragun Prime, which needs 30lbs of pressure to stall.

What’s more, Bantam’s power is real. These are not just advertised 35lbs., these are real.

Other Features

Weighing in at only 1.1lbs., the Bantam comes with four attachments and a carrying case. The build quality is top-notch, giving it a premium feel.

It charges conveniently via USB-C and is backed by Ekrin’s fantastic lifetime warranty. Overall, the Ekrin Bantam truly stands out as the most powerful mini massage gun we’ve tried.

Ekrin Bantam retails for $149.99 but with the MGA20 coupon, you save 20% and the price goes down to only $119.99. You can buy the Bantam here.

Read More Read full Ekrin Bantam Review here.

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Get Your Powerful Massager Gun Today

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this most powerful massage guns ride with us. Most guns will give you just enough performance, but in our book “just enough” isn’t good enough.

Instead of relaying on advertised specifications, we went ahead and verified the numbers provided with our set of tools – digital calipers, laser tachometers and more.

As a result, we chose Achedaway Pro, and Ekrin B37s as our first and second pick, respectively, as they represent two different, yet very effective, approaches to deep tissue massage using massage guns.

If you need a strong, versatile device that won’t break a bank, give any of these a shot and you will see why we have been so enthusiastic about them.

Thank you and goodbye!